Refrigerated cabinet



July 28, 1931. J. R. REPLOGLE REFRIGERATED CABINET 2 Sheets-She'et J,

Filed Sept. 8, 1927 IIEI IIN|IIO l LVVENTOR. J57? 7E Pepby. W9 4;

A TTORNEY July 28, 1931. J. R. REPLOGLE I REFRIGERATED CABINET Filed Sept. 2 Sheefis-Sheet 2 1.\ EYTOR 475/172 7? 7Fp/ogie ,4 N R-V155 s.

Patented July 28, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v JOHN R. REPLOGIIE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO KELVINATOR CORPORATION,

OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN REFRIGERATED CABINET Application filed September 8, 1927. Serial No. 218,173.

My invention relates to refrigerated food storage cabinets and more particularly to an improved top wall construction therefor.

Heretofore cabinets have been constructed with laminated wooden top walls covered by enameled or polished metallic plates. Such construction is objectionable because of warping and separation of the laminations which permit leakage of warm exterlor air .into the frame and promotes unsanitary conditions. Furthermore, such top walls are deformed by the careless dropping of. objects thereon.

An object of my invention is to provide a refrigerated food storage cabinet in which the top wall can be removed from the remainder of the frame without disturbing the same so that access may be had to the interior structure of the cabinet.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide a top wall structure for a refrigerated food storage cabinet which is constructed of molded non-deformable heat insulating material so that the top will retain its form regardless of the abuse, moisture or temperature conditions.

Other objects of the invention more or less incidental or ancillary to the foregoing will appear in the following description which sets forth, in connection with the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a top plan view, partially in section, of the sectional top wall having the cover plate cut away.

Fig. 2 shows a fragmentary cross-sectional view on the line 22of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a fragmentary cross-sectional view on the line.33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a fragmentary top plan view, a

partially in section, of one section of the top wall.

Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the means for fastening the several sections to the frame.

Referring more specifically to the drawings by characters of reference, the cabinet comprises a frame structure including an ably hard rubber.

upper portion of'longitudinally extending I angle iron frame members 10 and transversely disposed angle iron frame members 11 rigidly connected by gusset plates 12 fastened into each of the adjacent corners. The remainder of the frame (not shown) consists of similarly connected and disposed angle iron frame members forming a lower frame portion spaced and supported by angle iron corner posts as shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 673,678. A refrigerated space 13 is provided within the frame by arranging wooden walls 14 adjacent the inner sides of the frame portions with a layer of insulation 15, preferably cork board, in contact with the inner side of the walls. The sides and ends of the cabinet structure are provided with a metallic casing. 16 removably fastened to the frame members 10 and 11. A cooling means shown as comprising a brine tank 17 is placed within the refrigerated space 13 and within the brine tank 17 are disposed open sleeves 18 and 19 forming food storage compartments, the tops of which are connected to the brine tank by liquid tight joints as at 20. A sheet of insulating material 21 having openings therein registering with the openings formed by the sleeves, is placed over the top of the brine tank. This insulation 21, together with insulation of the side walls 15, provides heat insulation .for the brine tank.

Resting upon the longitudinal members 10 of the frame is a removable top wall 22 formed of a molded, non-deformable material having a low heat'conductivity, preferatfected by moisture and will not provide crevices allowing the collection of food and the breeding of bacteria. The top wall is preferably formed in transversely extending Such materials are un-" sections, each of which is removably secured to the frame 10 by means of studs 23 passing-through an aperture 24 injthe top wall section-22 and a threaded aperture 25 formed in the frame. The top wall sections are provided with indentations 26 formed'therein to receive the heads of. the studs and prevent contact of the studs and acover plate 27. Each of the sections 22 is provided with openings 37 registering with the sleeves 18 and 19. The lateral edges of the top 22 and the peripheral edges of the opening 37 are molded into ribs 40 projecting beyond the lower surface of the top. The heat insulation properties of the top are increased by the addition of corkboard or similar material with which the spaces 39 between the ribs 40 are filled. This material is held in place by a binder impervious to water, such as asphalt.

A groove 28 is formed in the peripheral wall of each top wall section opening and is adapted to receive a flange portion 29 of the projecting thimbles 30 and 31. Two forms of the thimbles are shown, the one form 31 being adapted for entrance into the sleeve 19 which is circular to receive a circular food container (not shown), the other form 30 also being circular and adapted to be brought into end to end engagement with a substantially rectangular sleeve 18 which is adapted to contain package goods. The thimbles 30 and 31 are formed of a strip of resilient sheet metal bent into a cylindrical shape. About the upper peripheral edge of each of the thimbles is formed the flange 29 which is adapted to enter the groove 28 formed in the periphery of the openings in each of the top wall sections. The ends of the thimbles 30 and 31 are secured to the openings 37 in the top wall sections by screws 32 and 33 which pass into internally threaded metallic inserts 32 and 33 molded in the opening wall. The thimbles close the space between the top wall of the refrigerated space and the top of the brine tank and provide a guard for the food containers placed in the sleeves. This prevents damage to the sleeve and brine .tank joints by preventing contact with the food containers as well as preventing leakage of warm air into the refrigerated space.

A plate 27 preferably of Monel metal, covers the entire top and is secured to the frame members by means of screws 34. Openings are formed in the cover plate 27 registering with the openings in the top wall sections and the sleeves. A bead 35 is formed in the cover plate about each opening to pre vent wash water, and other materials which may be on the cover, from draining into the food containers. The bead 35 rests in a seat 36 provided therefor about the openings 37 in the top wall sections.

From the above description, it will be seen that I have provided a novel top wall con struction which is readily removable and in which the sections thereof may be individually removed so that access can be readily obtained to various portions of the food storage chamber without (lismantling the other walls or the entire top wall. By theuse of molded materials that are impervious to 1nois ture and homogeneous throughout, I am able to provide a top that will be unaffected by moisture, and by which the collection of foods and breeding of bacteria is entirely obviated. Improvement in the top wall by supplying a non-deformable base is apparent in the preservation of the metallic cover plate in its original condition. My invention provides a durable, easily applied and entirely sanitary structure all of which features are desirable in a device of this character.

Although I have illustrated only the preferred embodiment of my invention, and described in detail but one application thereof, it will be obvious to anyone skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In a refrigerated food storage cabinet, a frame, walls enclosing said frame defining a chamber, said chamber having food storage compartments therein, one of the walls being formed of a molded material with openings therethrough, the wall forming the openings having an annular groove therein, thimbles depending from the openings in said wall into engagement with said food compartments, said thimbles being formed of sheet metal bent into cylindrical form and having a bent over peripheral flange adapted to extend into the grooves in said wall, and fastening means for connecting said thimbles and said wall, including threaded members molded in said top wall sections and screws pass ing through the ends of said thimbles into said threaded members.

2. In a refrigerated food storage cabinet, a frame, walls enclosing said frame defining a chamber, said chamber having a food storage compartment therein, the top wall of said cabinet being formed of molded material having an aperture therethrough, the interior portion of said molded wall being formed with recesses adjacent said aperture, and heat insulating material secured in said recesses.

3. In a refrigerated food storage cabinet, a frame, walls enclosing said frame defining a chamber, said chamber having a food storage compartment therein, the top wall of said cabinet being formed of a substantially nondeformable molded material having an aperture therethrough, said molded wall includ ing reinforcing ribs forming recesses adjacent said aperture, heat insulating material within said recesses and means for securing said heat insulating material within said recesses.

4. In a refrigerated food storage cabinet, a frame, walls enclosing said frame defining a chamber, said chamber having a food storage compartment therein, the top wall of said cabinet being formed of hard molded rubber having recesses in the under surface thereof, insulating material substantially filling said recesses, and a water insoluble binder for securing said insulating material Within said recesses.

5. In a refrigerated food storagecabinet, a. frame, Walls enclosing said frame defining a chamber, said chamber having a food storage compartment therein, the top Wall of said cabinet being formed of removable molded transversely extending sections, some of said, sections being provided with recesses in their under surface, insulating material secured Within said recesses, and an asphaltic binder for securing innsulating material within said recesses. I y

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOHN R. REPLOGLE. 

